A talented author of crime and mystery, Corey Lynn Fayman is best known for his work of the five-book mystery series, A Rolly Waters Mystery series. Many of the books included in this series have won awards throughout the years. Prior to excelling as an author, Fayman has been a keyboard player for local bands, as well as a sound designer for the world-famous Old Globe Theatre. He graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing.
Today, Fayman resides in San Diego with his wife. In his spare time he enjoys outdoor walks along the water, as well as all things music – he enjoys listening, playing the piano, and sometimes writing and recording his own music in his studio.
While writing Gillespie Field Groove: A Rolly Waters Mystery, did you learn anything new about yourself?
That’s a tough question, but I think with having a fifth book now written and published I’ve developed a higher level of confidence in my writing abilities. There’s a lot less hair-pulling than in the past. I trust the process now and know that if I just keep pushing ahead I’ll get to something of value. I worry less about being perfect and, mostly, enjoy the journey of writing. Who knows where it will go? Also, with this book, I took on some issues that were important to me—the duplicity and sexism of the music business—and worked it into the story without becoming polemical or preachy. It’s nice to know I can do that.
What do you enjoy doing most to unwind in your spare time?
I live near the bay in San Diego. Taking walks with my wife along the waterfront is a great way to both chill-out and get some exercise. I’m a great proponent of a good walk as a tonic for stress and other emotional ailments. I try to keep up my musical side, playing the piano and sometimes writing and recording music in my home studio. Getting lost in the music for a couple of hours is great for my mental health, especially now that it’s a hobby instead of a profession.
As an author, how do you define success on both a professional and personal level?
On both counts, I think it’s progress that counts. It’s not a set bar. On a personal level, it’s all about creativity. Am I still finding ways to be creative? Can I surprise myself and come up with ideas, characters, and plots that delight me? Can I still get excited about the work? Everyday won’t be a winner, but if the overall movement does that, I feel successful. On the professional level it’s a lot of little things. Am I getting more readers? More feedback from fans? More involvement and interaction with my creative community? It all works together. Success is about movement and avoiding stagnation in both those areas.
There are so many genres today that authors write in. How did you come about writing in the mystery genre and why?
I’ve always been a writer and I’ve tried my hand at a number of things, mostly shorter forms. I received a B.A. from UCLA in creative writing, specializing in poetry. I was a musician and songwriter for many years and I’ve even written a couple of plays, but I wasn’t sure I had the fortitude to finish a novel. Reading Ross MacDonald’s Harper novels inspired me to give it a try. He followed through on the hardboiled/noir styles of Hammett and Chandler but his characters didn’t inhabit the urban mean streets. They lived in affluent beach towns and universities. It gave me an “in” to the kind of crime novel I thought I might be able to write. Elmore Leonard was a big influence too, with his razor-sharp dialogue. The humorous elements developed naturally as I started writing the first book. That’s my nature, I guess. I wanted Rolly Waters to be a different kind of detective, not as tough or jaded as usual. He’s got his own tragic backstory, of course, but his music and sense of humor allow him to express his humanity in a positive way.
I hear you are working on another book. Can you tell us a bit about it?
I’m taking a break from the Rolly Waters series with my next book. It’s a family drama and historical crime novel set in the affluent seaside resort of La Jolla, California, in the mid-1950s. A rookie cop seeks to restore his family’s good name after his father’s suicide but his high-minded principles are put to the test when the search for a stolen suitcase implicates the rich and famous guests of the Del Charro Hotel, including Raymond Chandler, J. Edgar Hoover, and Zsa Zsa Gabor.
Available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BSDL3GGS
